Pavant Solar, LLC, is applying for a zone change to allow the construction of a photovoltaic solar plant east of Sheep Trail Road between Pahvant and Greenwood along U.S. 50.

A zone change from current Ag and Ag20 designation to Range and Forest designation is necessary to permit the building of the facility. Pavant Solar is leasing 846 acres of private ground for their proposed facility. The solar panels will occupy 430 acres according to Megan Day, Sr. Project Manager for JUWI Solar, Inc. Pavant Solar is an affi liate of JUWI Solar, Inc. “This is a low-profi le single-axis solar installation. It will be from six to seven feet high. Pavant Solar has a contract with Pacifi Corp doing business as Rocky Mountain Power. Energy produced at the site will go directly into the Pavant substation for sale to Rocky Mountain Power customers,” said Day. On its part, Pacifi Corp applied at the Utah Public Service Commission for an order approving a Power Purchase Agreement between it and Pavant Solar LLC on April 18. According to Day, the project will have a 35-year life span. Pavant Solar expects to spend between $5-$7 million installing the facility. She said there will be no permanent employees on site. Maintenance will be provided by a contracting firm. Several more steps are necessary before the project will be actually under way. The zone change was the subject of a public hearing before the Millard County Planning Commission. Citizens and potential neighbors of the project were allowed to ask questions and comment on the proposed project. Another public hearing is scheduled with the Millard County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, June 17 at 11 a.m. Pavant Solar hopes to break ground in October of this year. The 20-year agreement starts on the commercial operation date of Dec. 31, 2015. Day said the expected energy net output is 125,652 MW hours per year measured at the point of delivery. This is calculated to supply 12,000 households according to Day. Jake Christensen, owner of nearby Hawbush Ranch, came to ask questions about the facility once it is in place. His concerns included light refl ection and possible property value increases. Day said the solar panels are designed to absorb light, not refl ect it. Properties used for agricultural purposes in “Greenbelt” status should not see an increase in value. Greg Kesler, owner of the property Pavant Solar is leasing, told those present his concerns were the same for his agricultural acreage. He did not want to see the value increase causing an increase in property taxes. Comment was made during the meeting regarding the construction of solar facilities on private or School lands. By so doing, the builders avoid many obstacles that are included in the permitting processes when building on public lands. Conjecture pointed to Millard County seeing more energy projects being built on private lands.